WISDOM!
BE ATTENTIVE!

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 8th Saturday in Ordinary Time is, “Wisdom! Be Attentive!”

I’m sure you’ve heard at different times, in the Eastern Rite Churches, the reader chants before the readings, “Wisdom! Be Attentive!”

That’s exactly what Sirach – whom we’ve been listening to for two weeks now – as the First Reading – has been proclaiming – along with the so called, “Wisdom Literature” in the Old Testament.

“Wisdom! Be Attentive!”

And the Wisdom writers – tell their listeners – there is wisdom all around us – so be attentive to it. We can learn from nature – from creation. There are lessons in the trees and in the weather – along with watching people and learning from how life works – when people pursue what is right and just. There are consequences.

“Wisdom! Be Attentive!”

TODAY’S FIRST READING

In today’s first reading, Sirach – or his longer name, Jesus Ben Sirach – tells us to pray for wisdom in the temple – and to seek it like a grape becoming ripe. He also tells us the importance of having good wisdom teachers.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

That can lead us as Christians to praise Jesus – and to have him as a wisdom teacher.

Sirach said the seeker of wisdom has to open the gate and enter into wisdom. Jesus said he was the gate. And Jesus gives great wisdom once your enter into him.

Jesus said watch the birds of the air and study the flowers of the field. We will certainly be waiting for both – after this long winter.

Jesus said there are lessons in the skies and in the weather – in sheep and shepherds – in not being like the Pharisees and the scribes.

Jesus said to watch carpenters building homes on rock and not sand. We’ll hear that tomorrow in Sunday’s gospel. Jesus said to listen and learn – especially from his parables.

And the Pharisees and the Scribes – couldn’t stand it – that a carpenter – someone from nowhere in the north – Nazareth – had such wisdom.

The common folk picked it up – so this drove the Pharisees even into deeper frustration – till they realized they had to get rid of him.

CONCLUSION

So today – March 5th – 2011 – there is much to learn – there is wisdom to be gained and attained.

Today – March 5th - 2011 – there are questions hanging on trees and on people’s faces – ask them, "What's happening with you?"

Today – March 5th – 2011 – just like yesterday and just like tomorrow, we have two ears and one mouth – or as the German saying puts it, “The wise have long ears and short tongues,” so “Wisdom! Be attentive.”